[occ]Well guess this is just another game that died before it even started[/ooc]
Not quite. Still waiting for Pentor to get enough rest (and respond) before I can take over the minutia of running.. I think. If nothing happens by the time I'm off, I'll see what I can manage.
Not quite. Still waiting for Pentor to get enough rest (and respond) before I can take over the minutia of running.. I think. If nothing happens by the time I'm off, I'll see what I can manage.
Location: Nex, Capital City of Quantium, Company barracks
Date: Toilday, 4th Sarenith 4708
NPCs: Corporal Viola Hearn
Rest of Blood Hawks Company
The look on the Corporal's face is less than pleasant. Some might even say "dark", and "enraged" could also fit the bill. For someone of such pale skin, she certainly colored up quickly when agitated. As the members file in, the first sight they see is that of their Corporal in scale, waiting with her arms crossed. Surprisingly, the first assembled could see the near-fury drain from her face as she gathered herself to speak.
"Until every one of the lot of you are assembled, you will wait.. You will stand, not sit, nor will you move a muscle until I say."
The tone was conversational, though her hands tapped the dagger sheathed crosswise at her belt, and her eyes flashed with the suppressed anger. She was pacing, measured steps causing the leather boots that she was wearing to echo. Tycho had her attention for a few seconds, before she spoke again, just as calm as before.
"I was given a list of eight.. I do not see eight." Her dark eyes pass over those assembled, expectant.
Stern had not moved since he greeted her and looked to remain silent as he hadn't an inclination where those not here were.
"Ma'am, permission to speak further, Ma'am?"
Khair braced himself for a poor reaction, keeping his eyes locked forward.
Taking a deep breath, Tycho anxiously awaits the Corpral's fury. "Curses ! Raven is still outside! I hope that is what Khair wants to say... otherwise I'll have to say it, and I can tell that I haven't made the greatest impression on the corpral ... She is kind of cute when she is angry thou" Tycho barely manage to suppress a chuckle at his last thought, realizing that laughing out loud at this moment might prove painfull.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
The Corpral's eyes flick to Khair, then Tycho as she hears him inhaling. Stopping her pacing just at Tycho, she turns and paces back to Khair, stopping just shy of him. "Goood", she purred. "Permission grant--" she began to say, before she stopped mid-permission and turned, slightly cocking her head. "--do I hear snoring?"
The question was incredulous and also redundant, and she looked from Khair to Caern, pointing a finger. "You. Name. Quietly check it out."
"Caern Stern, Ma'am. Yes, Ma'am" Caern Walked to the door and quietly made his way outside.
1d20+17
Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Caern relaxed back into normal pose. He nudged the sleeping Native with his foot and waited for the man to respond.
Caern relaxed back into normal pose. He nudged the sleeping Native with his foot and waited for the man to respond.
Colross bolts into an upright position, hands dropping instinctually to the Talons on his belt, thumbs resting behind the top of the hafts. Quickly you see him alter from incognizant to ware as he trains on your mien and stance. Already the tips of his fingers are mindlessly tracing the edges of the blades...
With a flat expression he nods to Caern...
"Yaa' Ta' Sai'..."
"Hrumph...I mean to say, welcome friend."
Smoke Raven rises to his feet, reaches under his bedroll, and pulls free his chain hauberk which he begins to don.
Caern seemed to not react at the readying to draw the weapons. Such is the consequence of waking the warrior minded. He nodded to Colross and stated flatly "The corporal requests your presence inside."
He turned on his heel and walked back inside to his previous post. "Ma'am, our eighth member will be with us shortly." He resumed his stiff attention.
After rolling up his bedroll and stuffing his coat back into his canvas bag, Colross walks into the parlour throwing his kit into a corner. Looking around he sees the occupants arrayed in a line standing straight and tall, with curious visages of fear, stoicism, irritability, humour and impatience...
...funny how those in the death trade will subjugate or cower themselves so willingly to impress upon their peers a sense loyalty. Time will tell. When it comes time to reap flesh and bone and all humanity has vacated, we shall see who stands tall. How long will their loyalty to coin remain?
Colross eyed the tall, dark eyed, muscular woman that appeared to be wind burned in the face. He added himself to the end of the rank and file, straightened and with thumbs still in his belt spoke...
"Colross Sormul. Smoke Raven. Raider of the Shriikirri-Quah. Blood Hawk.
There was a tilt to Viola's head as she watched the Shoanti casually walk in and fall in line. No expression was on her face, and she seemed calm enough, looking over those assembled again. With a bit of formality in her tone, she straightened and spoke. "I'm Viola Hearn, your corporal. I'll be directing the lot of this squad across our assignments. It is my job to make sure that you all are properly kitted and prepared for those assignments. That is all. I am not a minder, watcher, or babysitter. You signed on to do this job. I expect you to do your job. Fail to do your job, and you'll likely see one if not more of these faces in this room fail with you."
Each step she took was accompanied by a muted 'clink' of her scale mail, slower this time, her expression was still neutral as she continued, stopping at the Sormul. "His name I have heard. I want the rest of yours." Viola's dark eyes scanned down the line, returning settling on the person that he was next to.
"M'am, Private Khair Colbad, M'am."
He repeated the line with the rigid tone that had long since been drilled into him.
"Private Tycho Harkonen, madame."
Covering a hiccup with a loud grunt, Cruach says "Crom Cruach, ma'am. Sword at yer service, and all that. Maldag-dka fendika."
"..........."
Using his sing language
"Private Caern Stern, ma'am"
What a group of strange looking individuals. Well I guess I wanted to see the world....
Ceragia Trundle Evocation specialist at your service.
As the group announces themselves, Viola gives a brief nod at their names, staring intently at them while they speak. Once they have finished, she gives one more nod to herself, gaining a contemplative look but focusing on Cruach. Two steps take her closer to him, squaring off in his face. The sound of her sniffing is audible, and after a couple of them, her face grows bleak, and she takes a step back, looking left and right at the rest of them. "Strip down to what you feel comfortable running in", she ordered. "Meet me outside."
She turned to the nearest bunk and began getting the straps and buckles that she could reach. "If you would assist me, Trundle?"
That was the first inflection that her voice had made since she had spoken, it was possible that she might not be that bad...
"We are a unit. We move as a unit. So we will see how well we move." Her tone was brusque, certain, and not at all pleasant-- not as if she was exactly cheery before.
As the Corporal starts sniffing him, Cruach peers at her, rather bewildered. "What the hell you want, lady?" Her face tells him the rest of the story. When she tells them all to strip down Cruach is at first excited, and then agonized when she notes that they'll be running. "Running? Now? I just finished my longest boozing streak in weeks!"
Cruach watches the rest of the squad get moving, his face incredulous. "You guys are all crazy, aren't you? You really want to go running, now?" When the Corporal starts unstrapping bunks Cruach just sighs, and then belches again. "Hell, I guess I'll join in then. You guys know this would be a lot more fun if you were all drunk like me." With that, Cruach goes to get the rest of his gear. Strapping his pack on, he marches back into the hall, drunkenly salutes the Corporal, and says "Kellids carry everything they need with them all the time. You want me to run, I run with everything I've got. See you outside, ma'am."
Cruach bashes the door open and steps outside.
Colross immediately steps over to his kit he just threw in the corner and strips off his hauberk and padding and stows them under his bag. He unfastens a belt pouch from his waist, reaches in an pulls out some of the salt tablets he bartered earlier and tossed some back draining his opened water skin.
Returning to the line with his billowy white Garundi garb, he strips his shirt off his shoulders revealing auburn colored skin the consistency of leather. From the base of the neck to his waist a single tattoo covers his entire torso and arms. The visage of a screeching crow...the eyes dominates his pectorals, and the open neb his upper abdomen, sides that of feathers and at his waist two outreaching talons directly where his two Kamas are tucked at his waist band as if the raven were carrying them.
Tying his shirt around his waist, as he walks out to the front of the building. Staring at Corporal Viola's dark eyes he began rolling his shoulders.
As he removes his red greatcoat he takes a second to contemplate were this is heading. "Straps and buckles ? Oh this better not be what I'm thinking ... I hope I get paird up with someone sober ateast" He gives Cruach a sideway glance as he unbuckles his scabbard from his belt and removes some minor things from his pockets. With a movements hesitation he decides to keep the dagger in his sleeve, in case of unexpected company. After stoving his stuff next to his bunk he rejoins the ranks and starts to warm up.
pausing to give the request a quick thought. Sure no problem I help the corporal remove her armor. ceragia stows some magic components and gear near her bunk. I suppose a tunic and a water skin is all I should need for this "nice stroll" in the city. At least im pretty sure I can keep up with the drunk. Let's hope he doesn't mind company, I like that kind of attitude. I step outside the smashed door and move over towards Cruach. I wait for the corporal to head us out.
Caern simply walks outside as he had never put his armor on today. He wore his loose fitting black robes, black half-mask covering his mouth, and sheathed dagger in his belt. His wooden spiral holy symbol hung from his neck.
Once outside he took up another stoic attention.
Once Ceragia helped Viola out of her armor, Corporal Hearn exited the building, wearing a short-sleeved, laced-front tunic that was under the padding for her scale, which was left inside. That was the only thing she removed, though from the way she moved, it seemed like had not quite noticed.. Her steps were still the same even steps and though she did roll her shoulders as Sormul was, she met his look evenly, that stoic calmness of hers not wavering. Underneath the mail, she looked almost normal. Almost. While still as pale, there was a corded strength to her slight body that showed in her movements. A silver amulet engraved with the spiral of Pharasma hung around her neck to rest on her chest.
Looking at Cruach, that expression cracked a bit to give him a nod of approval at his burdened state before she moved on to examine the others. The showing was recognized, though if he managed to last, that would be even more impressive.
Trundle received a nod as well, more out of the courtesy recognition of her assistance, as her expression was neutral once again.
Caern was examined as well, the Corporal looking him up and down, Just as Tycho did. Once Colbad had arrived, she walked the line again. "Tardy or drunk... Fine", she said almost to herself. "Let's see what all of you are made of. We are going to run. If you stop before I stop, you'd better have a good reason."
And with that, she set out at an easy lope that seemed almost effortless for her, leading the squad through the city in a circuitous route. For those that had not seen the glory of the city, it was impressive indeed. Any number of sights were able to be seen on the route. There were floating gardens, their vines draping flowers just over the heads of passerby, a woven lattice of roads that they crossed over using a bridgeway, every stone immaculate as if it had been polished, their varying hues seeming to shift with the angle, and even a district that was washed in the prismatic light from a large crystal that looked to be set atop a tower far overhead. The route was not difficult to memorize, unless one got distracted.
Eventually, the path she was leading the squad on began to look more and more familiar until they passed the squadhouse and began the circuit again. "That is the route we will run", she said loud enough for the squad to hear, her voice not seeming like she was winded at all. "Run it", she ordered, slowing her pace slightly to continue at the rear of the group.
Constitution Check, Lap #2 = DC 13
Constitution Check, Lap #3 = DC 15
Constitution Check, Lap #4 = DC 17
Collapsing on the cobbles and retching the contents of his gut, Smoke Raven with his eyes watering mutters to himself through the spittle...
"I knew I shouldn't have eaten that last skewer of mystery meat."
Khair moved from the line and picked up his pack. He would leave the armor off, but wanted to get used to the packs weight again.
Glad i missed dinner
dc 13
dc 15
dc 17
3 points nonlethal damage
Khair stopped and took a knee by Colross when he fell on the fourth lap.
"Up with you, unit's gonna have to move even if someone goes down."
He grabbed the mans forearm and helped pull him back to his feet, moving his arm over his shoulder to help support him as they both moved at a muted pace to finish things up.
Caern took to the run with the others.
"Thank you shikkisn (brother)."
Colross was ashamed of his performance. The Shriikirri-Quah were horse people, the Stony Mountains of his homeland a much cooler climate. Khair was an honorable man. Colross glanced at the others in his squad, and noted some of the others progress.
"Maybe we should help Tycho and Caern as well. Show the Corporal that we are united, regardless of our first showing."
Constitution Check, Lap #1 = DC 11
Constitution Check, Lap #2 = DC 13
Constitution Check, Lap #3 = DC 15
Constitution Check, Lap #4 = DC 17
Cruach had forgotten what is was like to run with such a load. Still, he had little trouble with the first lap, though his breathing rhythm was continually interrupted by belching. After he cleared his stomach of gas, though, he put a very strong showing in on the second and third laps. By the fourth, however, the drink in his gut was starting to catch up to him. Heaving a bit, Cruach still managed to finish the run in good condition.
As soon as Colross seemed to have regained himself and was able to keep pace without his assistance, he nodded to the man and pointed to Tycho.
"I'll help the other, you get him."
He moved toward Caern and took up pace with him, waiting to make sure he wouldn't need help. The man looked a bit haggard as the run finished, but didn't fall.
nodding and smiling he just does as he is told with a grin.
Lap 1
Lap 2
Lap 3
Lap 4
Remember to exercise, this is a fit punishment for slacking of in my training
I will need to remember to train my body more. this run shows my slack. Slack is unacceptable.
Caern nearly stumbled as the run ended, obviously winded, but he remained standing.
walking over to Cruach I hand my waterskin to him.
Here, drink some. I was wondering bout ya on the last lap what with all the gas you expelled.
Smiling and looking over the rest of the group.
I was wondering if I was the only one feeling the struggle towards the end. It's a good thing I didn't have to grab yer pack you probably would have just drug me along with ya and not noticed. HAHAHA
I will move around the rest of the group and offer water as well if they need it.
Viola was sweating as the run finished, but beyond that, she did not look much worse for the wear than she started. She mastered her breathing soon enough, and looked over the group once they had recovered somewhat from the run.
"Well done, Tempest Coven", she complimented as she straightened her hair, pulling the tie from it and going about retying it. She did not waste words with pointing out what parts she thought were well done. "You'll do." She finished with her hair and gestured back to the barracks. "I'll go about seeing what jobs are available for a squad with our capabilities. Check your gear and supplies, see the city, and be ready to move out in two days."
She seemed certain that she would have a job for them in two days, and given the abundance of magic in this city, it was a fair bet that it would be related to something magical. Heading back into the barracks, Viola came back out after a minute. Upon going inside, the others would find her armor and short sword moved to a bunk nearer the door.
Cruach greedily takes the skin from Ceragia and guzzles it like he's been lost in the desert for a week. He leaves little in the skin when he's done, handing it back nearly empty. Pulling his own skin from his pack loops, he hands it to Ceragia. "A favor for a favor, spellwielder. Thanks much!"
Colross guides Tycho over to the water barrel located next to the rack house, and splashed some water over his head and shoulders. After doing the same he slaps Tycho on the back and says with a coy grin...
"The people of the Hawk Clan are proud horse lords. But even now I do believe the beasts would be foaming at the bit."
Smoke Raven heads back into the rack house, checks his kit and claims an unattended bunk. After donning his padding and chain, Colross heads back out to the street to talk to some of the others in the troupe.
Approaching Ceragia and Jaqen he asks...
Any plans while we await further orders?
Regaining his breath after a bit, Caern stoically nods and walks into the barracks to meditate for a few hours.
After he meditates he stands and makes a few rounds around the lap circuit he ran to take in the sights, as well as for the sorely needed exercise it seemed.
Tycho follows Raven's lead, grateful for his assistance.
"Thanks friend - dam that trice cursed chicken stew !"
As they return to the barracks Tycho heads for his bunk, taking a few hours rest.
Well met Sormul
as he approached
This evening I had planned on penning some spells to parchment. However it looks as though we have some time left and I have not eaten dinner yet. I would like to hear of your tribes traditions and magic, if you would like to tell me those stories over some meat and spirits. I have seen the Wizards walk in this town but not much else. Of course I dont count the scenery on our nice jog today.
with a good hearted laugh.
I couldn't see thru my exhaustion and the falling bodies of our fellow members.
I glance down at the 2 kamas at Sormul's sides.
And I don't believe I have much to worry about if the native street thugs try anything foolish.
I fall in step with Sormul and make way towards the nearest bar/eating establishment.